News in brief

Gordon Brown yesterday backed Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who has faced demands to resign as chief inspector of constabulary over his record in relation to the Omagh bomb investigation. Last month Flanagan was criticised by relatives of bomb victims after a judge criticised police over the investigation. One of the victims' relatives, Victor Barker, said yesterday Flanagan should have resigned following the acquittal of the only man charged with the bombing. Flanagan, chief constable at the time of the 1998 bombing, is now the home secretary's senior professional adviser on policing.Henry McDonald

TV presenter no longer suspected of murder

Children's TV presenter Mark Speight is no longer being treated as a murder suspect, police announced last night. He was arrested and bailed on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs after his fiancee, fellow presenter Natasha Collins, was found dead in the bath at their home in St John's Wood, north-west London, on Thursday. A statement released by police about the "unexplained" death said the man in his 40s arrested at the scene had had his bail over suspicion of murder cancelled. He remains bailed to return in February regarding suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.Press Association

Inspector dismissed for having sex on duty

A senior British Transport police officer who admitted having sex while on duty has been dismissed. Inspector Masood Khan, 41, of Coulsdon, south London, admitted one disciplinary charge at a misconduct hearing yesterday. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said his actions brought the police service into "disrepute and ridicule". Last summer at Southwark crown court Khan was found not guilty of wilful misconduct in public office. The court heard that in July 2006 he left his duties for a 20-minute sex session at Gatwick airport with a woman he had met through a website.Press Association

Driver in quad bike crash will not face charges

A woman, 28, arrested over the death of a girl on a quad bike on Boxing Day will not face charges. The motorist, from Brentwood, Essex, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink or drugs after Elizabeth Cooke, seven, died in a collision. Police yesterday said they were still investigating the crash and the culpability of those involved. The girl was travelling with her brother Jack, 10, who was on another quad bike, behind her father Gary Cooke's car at 7pm when she was hit by a car travelling in the opposite direction near their home in Blackmore, Essex.Press Association